Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi has called on Malaysians to pray that the price of crude oil will decline further.

Speaking to reporters after chairing the finance council meeting in Putrajaya today, he said the government may review petrol prices again in October.

He said if global crude oil prices stabilise at US$109 per barrel until the year end, the government may reduce pump fuel prices.

pak lah and new petrol price reduce 220808"Now, the global crude oil price is at US$109 per barrel. If it stays at that level, then of course I will be very happy to reduce it by 15 sen than the current RM2.55 (fuel pump) price," he was quoted as saying by Bernama.

"Pray that it (crude oil price) does not go up, and that it will go down more. We are monitoring all the time," added Abdullah, who is also finance minister.

On Aug 23, fuel price was reduced by 15 sen to RM2.55 a litre from RM2.70.

Yesterday, media reports quoted Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister Shahrir Samad as saying that petrol prices may be reduced before the Hari Raya festival.